scarcity in the neighbouring country. At some pairing-grounds there are perhaps less than half a score,
whilst a t others there may be forty or fifty, o r even more. The hens are probably fully as numerous as
the cocks, but are less noticeable, from keeping more in the trees and amongst the bushes. As soon as
the birds have alighted at the pairing-ground, the old cocks begin to ‘ k u ttra ’ and ‘ blâsa,’ and to make
love to the hens (to which the latter are nothing, loth) or to give chase to rivals. Whilst the cock is thus
parading to and fro, with his neck stretched out, his wings trailing on the ground, and his expanded tail
raised nearly a t right angles to bis body, he frequently vaults high in the air, and in the while so ‘ slews ’
his body round that, on alighting again, his head is turned in an opposite direction. At such times the
young cocks keep a t a respectful distance from the old ones, and ‘ k u ttra ’ and ‘ blasa,’ fighting the while
amongst themselves.
“ Desperate combats between the cocks are frequent at the ‘ lek-stalle.’ They not only savagely charge
each other, but make such effectual use o f both bill and claws that the feathers fly in every direction. The
victory usually rests with the bird that succeeds in getting secure hold o f the head o f his antagonist, whom
he then drags about the arena until fairly tired out, and who, when released, is pretty sure to take wing
and fly away. Battles royal between the congregated cocks are also not uncommon ; and one may
sometimes see several engaged in a regular mêlée, tumbling over one another. While the cocks are
thus indulging in their combative propensities, the hens run to and fro with drooping wings, and
uttering a dolorous cry, ack, ack, ack, aa, expressive o f their anxiety for an embrace. Actual pairing
would not seem to take place so much at the ‘ lek-stalle ’ itself as amongst the surrounding bushes.
Matters thus proceed until sunrise, when the birds fly up into the neighbouring trees, where for a
time the cocks are silent, as if resting from their labours. But presently they descend once more to
the ground, and, for a short time, the game goes on as merrily as ever. The ‘ lek ’ over, the birds
separate, each cock accompanied by the ladies o f his harem. The pairing-season ended, the hens
separate and retire to their respective breeding-grounds, which may either be in the more open part of
the forest, or on the distant moorlands. The nest is a very simple affair, being a mere hole scratched
by the hen in the ground under a bush or tussock. The eggs are from six to twelve in number, in
colour yellowish-white, thickly sprinkled with small rust-red spots and blotches, which towards the thicker
end are somewhat larger ; in length they are two inches and one sixteenth, and in thickness one inch
and one sixteenth. The period of incubation, according to some, is three weeks ; to others, a month.
I t is said that if the old bird, whilst sitting, has occasion to leave the nest, she covers the eggs over
with moss.
“ Fourteen days after the chicks are hatched, we are told by Elstrom, they leave their nest and follow
their mother ; but it is not until they are seven weeks old that they begin to fly up into the trees and
perch on the branches.
“ The Blackcock is easily domesticated, and, if reared from a chick or taken young, soon becomes quite
tame. In the rural districts o f Sweden a caged Blackcock is often seen at the houses o f the gentry,
the bird being greatly admired by every one for its beauty and its song, which, though perhaps any thing
but musical, is wild and pleasing, and during the pairing-season almost contiuual.”
Speaking of this bird as seen in Scotland, Macgillivray says, “ In autumn the Black Grouse, from its
habits and mode of life, falls an easy prey to the sportsman ; but in winter and the early p art o f spring
it is shy and difficult to procure. As the males weigh from three to four pounds, and the females
about two, it ranks among the most important o f our native birds as an article of food. Its flesh is
whiter than that o f the Red Grouse, especially the smaller pectoral muscles, which are nearly as light-
coloured as those of the Pheasant. The natural enemies of the Black Grouse are foxes, polecats, and a
few o f the larger rapacious birds, in particular the Golden Eagle and the Peregrine Falcon. I t is alleged
that in some districts, and especially in the south-western parts o f Scotland, great injury is inflicted on
the Black Grouse by adders and vipers, which abound on the heaths and in the plantations.”
Writing in 1833, Mr. Selby says that the Blackcock was then very abundant in Northumberland, and had
been rapidly increasing for some years previously, and th at it was but sparingly met with in Staffordshire ;
it would appear, however, th at in the latter county, as in the former, it has greatly increased, since
Mr. Bond tells me that it is very abundant in Cannock Chase, where he has seen a flock o f at least
five hundred on the oaks and other trees, and that it is equally numerous in Chartley Park, the seat of
Earl Ferrers.
The Plate represents a male and a female, about four-fifths the natural size.